Efforts to create Sterling historic district moving forward with survey

Mills thanks donors for funding review of possible historic buildings

Some serious progress has been made to save Sterling's history in the past nine months, and Bernice Artzer Mills took the opportunity Thursday to prove it.

Mills, who has spearheaded the effort to create a Historical District, invited dozens of people to Sweet Creations Bake Shop, under the old Masonic Lodge, on Thursday to discuss the ongoing historical survey. The invitees had donated money to get the survey started in November, which could lead to the creation of a district and the addition of buildings to the historic registry.

In return, buildings in the district would have greater access to state and federal grant money, as well as tax credits.

“It could have a very, very big impact on this community,” Mills told the crowd.

“So please feel really great that you did this. I know I do.”

Carl McWilliams, who is leading the survey efforts with his wife, said he started the survey on Nov. 1 and will have until Feb. 1 to finish reviewing the roughly 100 buildings involved.

About 10 percent of those buildings – including the old Masonic Lodge – will go through intensive research to be placed on the Historic Registry.

McWilliams said he's looked at other buildings under two criteria: historic significance and integrity. He has to see if the building has any connection with significant historic figures, architectures or styles, then see if the building has the appropriate location, design, workmanship and feel.

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Mills has had people from Denver survey the properties and provide feedback, McWilliams said, which will prepare the final survey to send to History Colorado. If the survey passes the review and revision process of staffers, it's sent to a final review board who, if approved, send the final results to the “keeper of the national register of historic places.”

The process takes several months.

But McWilliams, who has worked from Brush to Fort Collins and Telluride, says the process is worth it.

With the registry of a historic district comes grant money, which Mills said makes the area more attractive to entrepreneurs, which ultimately leads to other side benefits like walking tours and commemoratory plaques. There's a domino effect.

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